The 2025 Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival delivered a standout event this year. The outdoor stage stretched across Liberty Avenue with a two-day line up of artists that combined tradition and innovation. Free outdoor concerts featured big stars and rising stars alike, including Branford Marsalis Quartet, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bilal, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Jazzmeia Horn, Kandace Springs, Michael Mayo, Ekep Nkwelle, Tarbaby, John Shannon, Etienne Charles & Creole Soul, Keith David, and more. August Wilson African American Cultural Center CEO Janis Burley and her team built this fantastic program and drew in an audience of nearly 30,000. The huge crowds enjoyed not only music, but also food, art, and talks about music and culture. Congratulations to all involved for the curation, the gorgeousness, and the amazing burst of energy Jazz Fest brings to Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival 2025, September 18-21
Story by Keith Recker
Photos Courtesy of Joey Kennedy
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